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Fable Lesson: What is a Fable?

In this fable lesson, students will use Internet sources, graphic organizers and group
activities to analyze and discuss the characteristics and story lines of two different fables,
"The Owl and The Grasshopper" and "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse." After
students read and brainstorm story elements of the folktales, they will then write a fable of
their own.

Grade Level: 3 - 5th

Subject: English/Language Arts

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

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Common Core Alignment

CCSS: ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.9 - Compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and
topics (e.g., opposition of good and evil) and patterns of events (e.g., the quest) in stories,
myths, and traditional literature from different cultures.

Objectives & Outcomes

Students will be able to analyze fables, find the moral of the story and identify the message
or theme of the fable after this lesson.

Materials Needed
The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse and The Owl and The Grasshopper (or you
can use any two other fables)
white board
dry erase markers

Procedure
Opening to Lesson
To begin this lesson, explain to the students that they are going to be learning about fables.
Fables originated long ago and were a form of oral storytelling.

To help students understand what oral storytelling is all about, play the Telephone Game.
(Students sit in a circle. The teacher whispers one line into the ear of the student to her
right. Each student will turn and repeat the line to the next person by whispering it in their
ear. Once the last student hears the line, they say it out loud.) (CFU: Discuss: How did the
story change? Why did the story change?)

Body of Lesson

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Direct Teaching
Explain why it was so important for oral storytellers to write their tales down. “There was a
man by the name of Aesop, and he wrote many of the fables that we know today. We are
going to be reading two of his fables, but before we do that, let us look at what
characteristics are common to most fables." Create an anchor chart on the board to review
the characteristics of fables with the class. The students will then get their own copy for
future guidance.

Guided Practice 1
Give each student a copy of the fable "The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse." I will read
this fable aloud to the class. (CFU: Once the teacher has finished reading the story, the
teacher will call on individual students and have them identify the elements of a fable found
in this story, referring to the anchor chart and handout.)

Guided Practice 2
I will give each student a copy of the second fable, "The Owl and The Grasshopper."
Students will read alone or in groups.

Independent Practice
Once students have finished reading, the students will share with their shoulder partner,
the elements of a fable found in this story. (CFU: can monitor the student discussions at this
time by walking around the room.)

Closing
Have students take turns going to the board and filing out the Venn Diagram to compare the
elements of the two fables.

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Assessment & Evaluation

Through guided questions during the fable lesson, close monitoring and informal
observation, the teacher will be able to assess the students' ability and understanding of the
subject being introduced. Through individually assessing during independent practice and
reviewing during guided practice the teacher will be able to evaluate students.

Modification & Differentiation

To modify these exercises, students can read the passages with a peer or listen to audio
versions of the two fables to ensure better comprehension. While students must work
together to understand the meanings of unfamiliar words, vocabulary words and meanings
have been pre-recorded on flashcards, which will be given to each group at the start of each
lesson. Students can tape their final fables before actually publishing them to help them

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organize their story ideas. Students can have a scribe for their final fable. Students can
work in groups of three instead of two during the Guided Practice when they are sharing
answers and discussion.

Related Lesson Plans

Short Stories

This lesson is designed to help students ask questions and support answers by connecting
prior knowledge with literal information found in, and inferred from, the text.

Writing Main Idea

This lesson is designed to help student’s organization and focus their grade appropriate
writing.

Explain Those Idioms

Students will recognize idioms for their actual as well as realized meaning.

Tearing Into Vocabulary

This is a quick activity to allow students to work cooperatively while increasing awareness
of vocabulary for a given lesson.

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